10 Best Gaming Mouse (Reviewed Apr. 2018)

It wouldn’t make sense to use a $5 mouse or keyboard with a $2,000 PC, right?

With that out of the way, this gave way to a lot of manufacturers like Asus, Logitech, Razer, Corsair, and a couple of other companies to step up their game and bring forth some of the best gaming peripherals in the market.

Considering how today, we will be discussing the best gaming mouse 2018, you should know that while the “gaming” and your standard mouse work on a similar fashion, and mechanism, gaming mice are better because they offer you to switch between different DPIs and extra programmable buttons. Imagine playing a Roleplaying game and having all your spells assigned to the buttons on your mouse along with the primary attacks.

Now that we have everything out of the way, let’s take a look at the topic of discussion we have on our hands, today, we will be looking at the best gaming mice that are available in the market for the consumer to buy.

In case you are wondering why this list is being made, well that’s because the market is saturated right now, and every other company is releasing a gaming peripheral including keyboards, headsets, and mice. While it may seem like a walk in the park for hardcore consumers, for people who don’t have a lot of knowledge about these gaming peripherals, things can somewhat difficult.

In order to make sure that doesn’t happen, we have come up with a list of best gaming mice that you can buy in the market. In order to keep things fair and stable, we have included both wirelesses as well as wired gaming mice to make sure that all the readers are thoroughly satisfied.

Before we begin looking at just how good the Steel Series Rival 700, there are some obvious things you should know about this mouse; the Rival 700 is unique in a sense that it carries an OLED display that can display a variety of different things including settings, as well as some GIFs that are specifically made for this display and can be downloaded from several series.

Speaking of the technical details, the Rival 700 is a modular mouse that offers features such as a modular design, RGB lighting, OLED display, adjustable DPI settings with DPI maxing out 16,000 on the optical sensor, and 8,000 on the laser sensor, and yes, you can change the sensor by buying one separately. Sadly, though, as much as we would have wished, the mouse doesn’t come with an ambidextrous design and might be a problem for people who aren’t left-handed. However, that doesn’t mean that the Rival 700 isn’t a good mouse, behind the expensive price lies a really good mouse that fits gamers of all sorts, it doesn’t matter if you are playing an FPS, an RPG, an MMO, the mouse is there to serve, and serve you well.

Our only issue with the Rival 700 is that it should have been available for the left-hand users and that the modules that are sold separately should have had a more affordable price tag. With that said, we are going to take a look at both the pros and cons of the Steel Series Rival 700.

Asus took everyone by surprise when they announced their flagship gaming mouse known as the Spatha, if you think the name sounds aggressive, take a look at the mouse itself.

The Spatha, of course, belongs to Asus’ top of the line Republic of Gamers line up, so you should know that you’d be getting a massive gaming mouse that would be filled with feature of all sorts, additional buttons, RGB effects that even sync up to your other ROG branded products such as motherboards, graphic cards, and even the keyboard by Asus.

Now before we start discussing the in-depth details, you should know that Spatha is more than just a gaming mouse, from the construction standpoint, it actually is a marvel, and while Asus’ choice of using magnesium alloy instead of the traditional materials that are used in the gaming mouse. This mouse can be considered quite heavy as opposed to the competition it has, and the price is something only for the hardcore gamers.

With said, if you are wondering about the technical details, you should know that the ROG Spatha comes with an awful lot of programmable buttons, and that’s not all, you also get a charging bad that looks stylish as hell. Now at this point, you may have guessed that the mouse is wireless, well, here’s a catch, you can use it wirelessly without any input lag, and you can use it with the wire as well. You get the RGB lights, and pretty much every other feature you’d expect from a flagship mouse. The mouse comes with 12 programmable buttons that can be programmed as per your needs using the Asus Armoury software, you also get 8,200 max DPI, amazing ergonomics and comfort for long gaming sessions, the main buttons use Omron switches that are rated for a really high click cycle, and even if they wear out, you can always replace them.

We won’t be saying that the ROG Spatha is the perfect gaming mouse, it does have some flaws like the buttons on the side feeling a bit too flimsy, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less capable. So, without further ado, let’s go ahead and read some of the pros and cons of this mouse.

3. Razer Ouroboros – Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse

The next up on our list is the Razer Ouroboros, and in case you don’t know, Razer is perhaps one of the best peripheral company out in the market, that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone because it’s simply too good.

This mouse can be called the direct competitor of Asus Spatha but has been around for quite some time. It is again, a wireless/wired combination, and unlike Spatha, it does offer an ambidextrous design making it a top pick for many users. One should keep in mind that the Ouroboros is strictly made for the enthusiasts, and it doesn’t offer features such as the RGB lighting, though considering how it’s a pretty old mouse, Razer may release an updated version with the Chroma lighting in near future.

It can be called the direct competitor of “Asus Spatha” but has been around for quite some time.

With that said, in case you are wondering about the good stuff that goes into this mouse, well, there is quite a lot. Razer has designed this mouse and kept modification in mind, most of the parts on the mouse can be removed and shifted around, and yes, you do get weight tuning, something most people love. Some of the adjustments include the ability to tune weight, as well as the palm rest in order to get the optimal gripping experience. The mouse also comes with 11 programmable buttons, as well as highly accurate dual sensors to keep everything in order.

There is no way that this mouse is perfect as there are some obvious flaws, for starters, the mouse is pricey considering how after all, it’s a gaming mouse. In addition to the price, for people who are looking for a simple experience, it can be a bit too confusing. However, don’t let that stop you from buying this otherwise amazing gaming mouse.

So, let’s not waste anymore time, and get right into the pros and the cons.

Pros

Extremely customizable; ranging from buttons to palm-rest

Can be used wirelessly, and wired; using it with the supplied wire will keep the mouse on charge

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone but there is no peripheral list that would be complete without the inclusion of a peripheral from Logitech.

Whether you are talking about keyboards, speakers, or headphones, Logitech has to be on the list simply because they are that good, and no, we aren’t just talking about the gaming peripherals from Logitech. We are talking about pretty much every single type of peripherals that the company has released in its long stay in the industry.

Similarly, a gaming mice list would have been incomplete without the inclusion of the Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum; now before we begin, you should keep in mind that this mouse can actually be considered a direct rival of much revered Asus Spatha, and the Razer Ouroboros mainly because of the price as well as the amount of features you get, and that’s nowhere near a bad thing.

So, what’s good about the Chaos Spectrum? Well, there are a lot of things, for starters, you can go from 200 to 12,000 DPI on the fly, and that’s really impressive, do keep in mind that this isn’t just software increase, and the DPI is effectively changed across the board, you get the Spectrum lighting, something that is Logitech’s own version of RGB lighting, and you get the legendary software suite that Logitech is known and loved for. The Chaos Spectrum can be used wirelessly and wired, and just like the Ouroborus, does come with an ambidextrous design.

Bear in mind that this is a flagship mouse from Logitech, so if you are concerned about paying a high price, you are also getting some of the finest features, regardless of you needing them or not. With that said, if you are wondering about us encountering any downsides, there aren’t any deal breakers here. Sure, the mouse carries a hefty price tag, and the overall aesthetics of the ambidextrous design might put off some design conscious people, but under the hood, the Chaos Spectrum happens to be one of the MOST powerful, and over the top brilliant gaming mice we have used. So with that out of the way, pros and cons, shall we?

Pros

Beautiful Spectrum RGB lighting.

Amazing Logitech Gaming suite that is elegant and easy to use.

Customizable, and fully programmable buttons.

Best in class performance thanks to the brilliant switches and sensor.

5. Corsair M65 Pro RGB – Best for FPS Games (12000 Max DPI)

Corsair’s foray into the gaming peripheral industry managed to turn quite a lot of heads; mainly because everyone got excited that their favourite case, RAM, and power supply manufacturer is finally bringing in something different on the table, and believe it or not, the foray was a success.

Corsair didn’t just release a product range suited for every budget oriented, as well as well high-end gamers, but they made sure that all the products don’t share a drastic difference between the price they have and the features they give. That means that whether you are buying their mid-high range K70, or their enthusiast range K95, you won’t be sacrificing on the features a lot. That is something really good, and something a lot of other companies don’t follow.

With that said, we are taking a look at the Corsair M65 Pro RGB, one of the best gaming mice available in the market, and certainly made for users who are more inclined towards saving up some money, and still getting a lot in return.

The mouse, as the name suggest, does come with the RGB lighting that can be conveniently controlled through the Corsair’s customization software. The software itself is easy to use, although, it may require some learning curve, but that’s okay. You obviously get buttons to adjust the DPI to your liking, some customizable buttons, as well as a very, very handy weight tuning system that allows you remove some of the weights and put them away in order to make the mouse lighter. Now in case you are wondering, a lighter mouse means your hand will have an easier time gliding it, something a lot of FPS gamers are looking for.

Now essentially, the M65 Pro is definitely a mouse designed for FPS gamers, however, the good thing is that it is suitable to all the gamers regardless of the genre they are playing. So, definitely a plus point right there. With that said, let’s dive into what’s good, and what’s not about the Corsair M65.

Pros

Excellent build quality from the cable, down to the mouse.

Amazing price to performance ratio.

Weight adjust system is a welcomed addition.

Corsair’s CUE software is flexible, and a great way to customize your mouse.

The sniper button helps adjust the DPI on the fly, making it a really good addition.

6. Logitech G502 – Highest Native DPI Mouse

We have another gaming mouse from Logitech, and this time, it’s the G502 Proteus Spectrum; to be fairly honest, it’s one of few mice by Logitech that helped the company establish itself.

If you are wondering, the Proteus Spectrum is just an updated version of the bestselling Logitech Proteus Core, the only difference is the inclusion of Spectrum lighting; Logitech’s version of RGB lighting. Where the G900 Chaos Spectrum is built for the enthusiasts who like to fire on all fours, the Proteus Spectrum is aimed at users who don’t want to spend an awful lot of money but still get the best of both worlds.

The Proteus Spectrum comes at a modest price, but for a modest price, you get a lot of features including DPI as high as 12,000 DPI

Speaking of the technical stuff, Logitech didn’t really change anything from the original Proteus Spectrum apart from the fact that they added the RGB lighting system that has pretty much become the industry standard and everyone is using it in their peripherals, be it a mouse, a keyboard, or a headset.

If we are to tell you about just how good the Proteus Spectrum is, there would be a lot of things to tell; for starters, the mouse costs half of what some of the flagship mice cost, apart from that, the mouse has an excellent value for money, 11 buttons that can be programmed however you want them to be, a comfortable design that doesn’t shy away from being stylish, and excellent tracking and response. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the pros and the cons.

Back when Razer originally released the DeathAdder, the mouse took the gaming industry by a storm, it quickly became one of the best gaming mice on the market, it actually didn’t cost a lot, and it was everything a gamer wanted.

The company later moved on released a few different mice as well, however, people still missed the DeathAdder, however, Razer finally decided to listen to the fans and came up with the Razer DeathAdder Chroma.

Now in case you don’t know, considering how the RGB lighting has become an industry standard, Razer has gone ahead and invented the Chroma lighting system that can be controlled through their brilliant Razer Synapse 2.0; now the Chroma system is perhaps one of the best RGB implementations we have seen in a long, long time.

With that said, everything about the Razer DeathAdder Chroma is new and improve, making it one of the most impressive gaming mice to step in the gaming industry; in case you are wondering what your money gets you basically get an amazing optical sensor that is capable of delivering an output of 10,000 DPI, and yes, you can control the DPI as per your liking, so even if you want to go lower, you can easily do so.

You also get Razer’s Synapse 2.0, one of the best customization suites you can find when it comes to the software. The good thing about Razer DeathAdder Chroma Is that the company followed the “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” very gracefully, and didn’t bring any revolutionary changes apart from some hardware tweaks, and in our opinion, that’s the best way to do it. Simply put, people who find the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum too fancy, going for a Razer DeathAdder Chroma is the best choice there is. Let’s dive a little deeper into some pros and cons in order to give you a better idea.

Corsair decided to jump in the gaming market, and while some thought that it’s just a fad, and the company will move on, the actual plans were a bit different. The company released some of the best gaming peripherals back to back and managed to impress us with what they have in their arsenal.

With that said, while the M65 Pro was largely focused on the FPS gamers, the Corsair Scimitar is company’s attempt at making a great gaming mouse for the MOBA/MMO community. With that out of the way, the mouse comes with a total of 17 programmable buttons, 12 of which are conveniently sitting on a slider on the left side of the mouse, and are mechanical.

When we say slider, Corsair includes a hex screwdriver with the mouse that lets you adjust the slider as per your grip and the reach of your thumb. It’s nice to see Corsair paying attention to the detail. The mouse comes with one of the best sensors in the market, it uses an impressive Pixart ADNS 3988 sensor. The sensor supports a max DPI of 12,000, however, the DPI can be adjusted as per your need.

The mouse is built for users with large hands in mind, and all the buttons are conveniently placed, are responsive, and don’t feel mushy at all. Most of the construction is made using matte/glossy plastic, however, the middle of the mouse is aluminum, giving the mouse a good heft.

The mouse has 4 zone RGB lighting that can be controlled using the Corsair Utility Engine, the same software also works for customizing the mouse like programming the keys, assigning macros, and controlling the lighting.

As far as the performance goes, the Corsair Scimitar is capable of going head to head against the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum, both of the gaming mouse offer something unique, and are catered to different type of gamers, but under the core, they both have very identical performance as far as the sensor is concerned.

If you’re a gamer who doesn’t require a lot of macro keys, then the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is the obvious choice, however, if you’re someone with a bigger hand, and someone who needs a lot of macro keys, then the Corsair Scimitar takes the win. With that out of the way, there’s no denying that both mice are exceptional.

Pros

The Pixart sensor offers brilliant tracking.

17 fully programmable buttons are a treat for MMO/MOBA gamers.

4 zone RGB lighting can be linked with other Corsair peripherals.

Top of the line build quality.

Cons

The mouse can be hefty for some users.

The thumb buttons are not ideal for those who don’t want to use them.

9. Razer Naga Hex V2 – Another mouse for MOBA Games

The next on our list is the Razer Naga Hex V2, and before we begin, you should know that this is perhaps one of the more revered gaming mice among the MOBA games because of a number of buttons you get, and how you can customize them completely.

However, you should keep in mind that while this mouse is designed specifically for MOBA gamers, you should know that there is no way you can use in other games, however, this mouse is useable for games in which you have a lot of keyboard shortcuts, you can conveniently map them onto the mouse, and use them, thanks to amazing thumb grid.

Razer has gone on the record and stated that the Naga Hex V2 has mechanical switches in the thumb grid to ensure that gamers have the best possible experience, and the switches don’t end up wearing out. Our testing revealed a fair bit of a tactile feels in the thumb buttons, and it was certainly a welcomed addition.

The Naga Hex V2 comes with your traditional features that you can expect in a top of the line Razer mouse; you do get an excellent optical sensor capable of delivering a whopping 16,000 DPI. You also get the much revered Chroma RGB lighting that can be controlled and tweaked through the excellent Razer Synapse 2.0. Oh, yes, there’s more, you can even tweak all the present physical buttons on the mouse, and tailor them according to your own need, keeping in mind that all the buttons can be fully programmed. It’s certainly a big advantage for users who want to make sure they get the most out of this mouse. With that said, we are going to take a look at some of the benefits of the Razer Naga Hex V2, and why is it such a good gaming mouse for MOBA gamers.

Keeping it short, there are a lot of good things about the Razer Naga Hex V2, and there are a couple of bad things, but considering the industry standards, it has become a norm. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

The last product on our list is coming again from Corsair, and this time, it’s the Corsair Sabre RGB.

Before we begin, you should know that the Corsair Sabre RGB, in many ways, can be considered a younger brother of the Corsair M65 Pro RGB.

While a lot of people might be bummed out to know about the downgrade, you actually shouldn’t pay attention to it. The reason is simple, while the Sabre RGB is certainly the cheaper option, a lower price, and a different design gives it an identity of its own, and that is certainly a good thing because, at the given price point, you are getting a mouse that is able to have an impressive 10,000 DPI, a good design that will attract most gamers, and not mention, RGB lighting. So, in simple words, gamers are paying less and getting more when it comes to the Corsair Sabre RGB.

While the Sabre RGB won’t be winning any beauty pageants because of how simple it looks as compared to some other mice we have mentioned in our list, it is certainly a good thing because the mouse is designed with simplicity in mind and it does a great job at that.

The Sabre RGB can simply rest on your desk, and you won’t be bothered by it. No, we are not saying that the design is bad, it’s just stealthy, and that’s how most gamers prefer. You should keep in mind that you won’t be getting any weight tuning system but keeping the price as along with the weight of the mouse makes it clear that you don’t really need weight tuning. You get an excellent 10,000 DPI sensor and RGB lighting, and that should be more than enough.

Sure, as with many other gaming mice, and peripherals, there are good things, and then there are not so good things; same is the case with the Corsair Sabre RGB, and we are going to list down the pros and the cons below.

Pros

The excellent sensor offers top of the line DPI, and easy to use gliding.

Programmable buttons let you customize the mouse according to your own preference using CUE.

RGB lighting that can also be adjusted through the CUE (Corsair utility engine)

It’s nice to have a wide variety to choose from, but it gets trickier too. Gamers got to know their choice in games before picking up their gaming mouse. Basically, games are categorized into three genres:

Real Time Strategy (RTS)

Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)

First Person Shooter (FPS)

Most gamers prefer one or two of those three game genres. Some might like to play every genre and pick up every game that hits the market. A gaming mouse like Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum would do well for all type of games. Contrariwise Logitech G502 does extremely well at MMO games. For instance, you may never get enough of games like League of legends, when you don’t have this mouse.

Different Type of Mice Grips

Aggressive grip stance results in attacking repertoire in PC gaming. Every gamer is more comfortable at one grip type over other. While choosing your gaming mouse, you must pick something that fits your favorite mouse grip. There are three types of grip stances, which are commonly preferred by gamers.

Palm Grip: In this grip your hand entirely rests on the mouse. When you like to feel your palms rested, this is probably your favorite grip.

Claw Grip: It is a ditto of palm grip with some tweaks. The index finger and middle finger is arched backward to make a perpendicular angle for clicking.

Fingertip Grip: Only two fingers and thumb happens to touch mouse in this grip. Your hand stays in the air entirely.

Different Mice Concepts your must be aware of

Prediction

Gaming mice have to be smart to cater gamer’s every need. Modern mice are capable of avoiding registering erratic hand motions. Mouse correcting isn’t always helpful since precision is largely compromised during gameplay.

Sensitivity

Mouse’s sensitivity is measured in DPI (Dots per inch) or CPI (characters per inch). DPI can be anywhere from few hundreds to few thousands. The higher the DPI, the faster can the mouse move on a screen. The sensitivity of any best gamer’s mouse 2018 has a wide range.

Sensor

There are two types of sensor in mice- optical and laser. The optical sensor is suited to even the roughest surfaces. Laser sensor, however, performs better on reflective surfaces. In such settings laser sensor, returns excellent DPI.

Acceleration

The ratio of pointer speed to the speed of hand movement defines the acceleration on a mouse. It’s measure in G force, where one G equals 9.8 meters per second. Low-sensitivity gamers need to come to terms with acceleration often since they require more hand movements.

Polling Rate

Polling rate refers to the transfer and response rate between mouse and computer. It’s measured in hertz and practically ranges between 250-1000Hz on any gaming mouse. Since the mouse is peripheral, the sent data is processed first before action is taken on screen.

Programmable Buttons

Programmable buttons makes gaming mice and keyboards more exciting. Gaming mice typically have buttons which can be turned into hotkeys for executing in-game actions a lot quicker. For instance, you can see sniper buttons present on an FPS specific mouse.

Profiles

With programmable buttons comes a set of profile settings. You can even specify different actions for buttons while changing characters in any game. With the same mouse, you can smoothly switch between genres and games.

Lift-Off Distance

Lift off distance is how high the mouse can be lifted up from the surface before move movements get unresponsive. Mouse software may come in handy to adjust lift-off distances. In competitive gaming, the lift-off distance plays a significant role.

Weight

Last but not the least, weight matters too. Not many gamers care much about it. But weight determines the level of feel during gameplay. Adjustable weights are a trending concept in gaming mice these days. Fine tuning it helps to make predictions easy and increases ease.

There is no denying that buying gaming mice have become sort of a necessity for a lot of people, some do it just to complete their gaming PC, while others do just for the sake of it.

However, there is one important thing a lot of gamers don’t know. Buying a gaming mouse doesn’t necessarily mean that your skills will improve by a drastic measure. Sure, a gaming mouse might help you in some ways, but if you are buying it just for the sake of improving your skills, then you are wrong. In case you don’t know, most professional, e-sports gamers are actually winning all the competitions without the use of a gaming mouse, and yes, it does come as a shock, but they have actually gone on the record and stated that they prefer a standard mouse better simply because they are used to it.

With that out of the way, that doesn’t mean that gaming mice are just gimmicky because they are not. Thanks to their high DPI, programmable buttons, customizable macros, and a lot of other features that are suitable for gamers. That’s why the market is so saturated with gaming mice, there are just too many options for the average gamer to choose from, and while it is certainly a good thing, it also makes a customer really, really confused.

Thankfully, to make things easier for the consumers, as well as for everyone who is reading this article, the choice of gaming mice should help them pick the one they want. That’s why we went ahead and used mice from every single price group, as well as gaming mice that were tailored to specific people or genre of games like the Razer Naga Hex V2 that is built specifically for the MOBA gamers.

Hopefully, this list should solve your gaming mice buying woes, and you will be able to buy the perfect gaming mouse that will complement your play style, as well as the type of grip you have.